Law enforcers who were involved in dealing with the incident of the Feni student Nusrat Jahan Rafi killing have been spared, says the BNP.
“The [Nusrat murder] verdict is the evidence of government’s dependency on the police. Which is why police members were spared,” said Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Almagir.
The senior BNP leader was speaking to the media at the Dahka airport on Thursday (Oct 24) after warping up a three-week tour of Singapore and Australia.
Earlier in the day, a special tribunal in Feni sentenced 16 people to death over the Nusrat murder.
A student of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, Nusrat was set on fire by the followers of madrasa principal Siraj-ud-Daula on Apr 6 after refusing to withdraw sexual harassment charges against the principal.
Mirza Fakhrul alleged this “unelected government has no mandate”.
“They (government) are carrying out such acts of mischief to stay in power by force,” he said before demanding for a new election.
Meanwhile, BNP affiliate “Women and Children Rights Forum” said the verdict didn’t reflect justice completely
“The then OC of local police [Moazzam Hossain] has not been punished despite severe allegation of showing negligence in his duty in dealing with Nusrat murder,” the Forum said in joint statement issued by its Convener Begum Selima Rahman and Member Secretary Nipun Roy Chowdhury.
MIRZA FAKHRUL’S TOUR
Mirza Fakhrul went to Australia after receiving treatment at Singapore.
In Australia, he attended a seminar of Asia Pacific Democratic Union (APDU), in which the BNP leader serves as vice-chairman.
Apart from attending the APDU programme, “I took a leave from the party to spend some time with my eldest daughter living there,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
MISSED MANY THINGS HERE
The BNP leader said he missed many things here in Bangladesh during his trips but had been observing the situations.
Referring to the murder of BUET student Abrar Fahad, Mirza Fakhrul said, “Terror elements sheltered by the ruling party are carrying out such activities.
“Chhatra League and Jubo League have gone wild for the past several years and the country begins to take its toll,” he added.
Mirza Fakhrul believes the government should step down over the incident of Abrar murder.
Speaking of Bhola clash that killed four people, the BNP condemned the police firing on locals and called the incident “distressing.”
“Police firing on peaceful procession is evident that there is no freedom of expression in the country,” he said.
Referring to the remarks of chief lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon on “people couldn't vote in the Dec 30 polls,” Mirza Fakhrul thanked the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh chief for ‘speaking the truth lately.”
The BNP leader again demanded the government to resign before claiming the ongoing crackdown on corruption by the authorities an “eyewash”.